Fast Draining Water Holding Tank

ABSTRACT

An improvement to a collapsible liquid holding tank includes a chute which extends outwardly from an opening in one of the tank side walls. The chute is formed by a bottom panel and side walls of collapsible material, the bottom panel perimeter being reinforced by a hinged frame which swings between “vertical” and “horizontal” conditions in which the opening is “closed” and “opened,” respectively. A clamp hinged on the top rail of the tank secures the chute in the “closed” condition in which the bottom panel of the chute extends across the opening. To drain the tank, the clamp is rotated clear of the frame and the chute is swung to the “opened” condition by the weight of the liquid in the tank.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/466,830.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to liquid storage tanks and more particularly concerns portable high-volume tanks for storing water to be used in emergency situations, such as fighting fires.

It is a common practice to use portable water storage tanks in fighting fires where no natural reservoir is available. It is often desirable and sometimes critical that the portable tanks be rapidly collapsed for removal, either because the fire-fight is ended or because the tank needs to be relocated to a different site to fight the same or a different fire. Often the tank needs to be moved before its stored water has been fully discharged. Draining the tank is typically accomplished by use of a drain hole near or in the tank bottom and collapsing the tank liner toward the drain hole to shift the remaining water toward the drain. Depending on the remaining water volume, the process can be quite time consuming.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a high-volume portable water storage tank that can be very rapidly drained. It is also an object of this invention to provide a rapidly drainable high-volume portable water storage tank having a discharge structure that will not compromise the water storage integrity of the tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a high-volume portable water storage tank is provided which can be very rapidly drained. At least one collapsible chute is integrated into one or more sides of the tank liner, each such chute being held by one or more fasteners in an upright condition so as to complete the liner side wall for storage of water in the tank. Upon releasing of the fasteners, the chute unfolds under the force of the water remaining in the tank to create a wide and substantially tank top to tank bottom opening, permitting the remaining water to be discharged from the tank through the chute.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the collapsible frame of the fast draining water holding tank;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the discharge chute of the tank of FIG. 1 opened to its discharge condition;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the latch of the discharge chute of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the door frame of the discharge chute of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the door frame of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the door frame of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the area 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the area 8-8 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the door frame of FIG. 4.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment or to the details of the construction or arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning first to FIG. 1, the frame of the fast draining water holding tank has four sides with their corners and the middle portions of two opposed sides being hinged to permit the frame to be opened into or collapsed from its water storage condition. Each side is formed with horizontal top and bottom rails spaced by vertical struts. At least one of the sides, as shown by one of the unhinged sides, includes a hinged drop-down door frame and latch positioned between two adjacent vertical struts. The door frame and latch are components of the tank water discharge chute shown in FIG. 2.

Looking at FIG. 2, the frame supports the collapsible tank liner and the discharge chute is formed by a U-shaped segment of material extended outwardly from the edges of an opening in the tank liner. The bottom panel of the U-shaped segment has its perimeter defined and reinforced by the door frame. The latch, best seen in FIG. 3, is a U-shaped member which is seated on the top rail proximate the middle of the chute opening and is pivotally mounted on a pin extending through the top rail and apertures in the latch. As shown, the edges of the chute material are doubled over and stitched or sealed for reinforcement but the side walls are foldable flaps which, when the chute is being closed, allow the top outer corners of the chute to be pulled into the tank until the door is upright and the bottom panel of the chute extends across the opening.

As seen in FIGS. 4-9, the door frame is formed using top and bottom rails connected by side struts with hinge pins extending outwardly from the door frame bottom rail for engagement in the bottom rail of the tank frame, as best seen in FIG. 1. When the door frame is raised so that the bottom panel of the chute closes the opening in the tank liner, the latch can rotated to secure the door in the upright position. The side flaps can be folded back against the side walls of the tank liner. The excess flap material may also be secured to the tank liner or frame in the folded back condition by use of hook and loop fasteners or other fasteners such as rope, snaps, buttons or the like. The storage integrity of the tank is maintained because of the unitary structure of the tank liner and the chute. The chute can be employed without a door frame by using hook and loop or other fasteners to not only hold the flaps against the side walls of the liner but also to secure the bottom panel of the chute to, or close to, the top rail of the tank frame.

If it is desired to discharge remaining water from the tank by means of the chute, a simple release of the door latch and/or any hook and loop or other fasteners used to hold the chute closed will cause the chute to be opened by the force of the water remaining in the tank. Once drained, the door and/or chute can be reconnected in the upright condition for refilling of the tank. The door structure and chute materials can be arranged to allow opening in a direction other than downwardly. The frames can be made of aluminum, steel, plastic or other suitable materials. The preferred door latch would be stainless steel.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a fast draining water storage tank that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit of the claims to be appended. 

1. In a liquid holding tank formed by a collapsible liner having side walls and a floor panel and a foldable frame having horizontal top and bottom rails spaced by vertical struts, the liner side walls being suspended from the foldable frame top rails, an improvement comprising: a collapsible chute extending outwardly from one of the side walls and the floor panel of the liner and defining an opening in said one of the side walls, said opening extending upwardly from the floor panel and between an adjacent two of the vertical struts, a length of said chute being at least equal to a height of said one of the side walls; and a hinged frame reinforcing a perimeter of a bottom panel of said chute, said frame swinging between “vertical” and “horizontal” conditions in which said opening is “closed” and “opened,” respectively.
 2. An improvement according to claim 1 further comprising means for securing said chute in said “closed” condition with a bottom panel of said chute extending across said opening.
 3. An improvement according to claim 2, said hinged frame having a bottom member hinged for rotation between said adjacent two of the vertical struts of the tank frame.
 4. An improvement according to claim 3, said means for securing comprising a latch pivotally mounted on the top rail of the tank frame proximate a middle of said opening.
 5. An improvement according to claim 4, side walls of said chute being foldable flaps which, as said chute assumes said closed condition, are pulled into the tank until said chute frame is upright and said bottom panel of said chute extends across said opening.
 6. An improvement according to claim 5, said hinged frame having top and bottom members connected by side struts, said bottom member comprising a portion of the tank bottom rail with hinge pins extending outwardly from said bottom member and pivotally engaged in the bottom rail of the tank frame.
 7. An improvement according to claim 6 further comprising one of hook and loop fasteners, ropes, snaps and buttons securing side walls of said chute to one of the collapsible liner and the foldable frame in said “closed” condition. 